27 Chapter 27 Saski's Observations

Saski made sure Duran was always in his line of sight for the reminder of the day.

He watched his peer move from room to room with an effete mannerism. Not even the cheerful jokes and efforts from Duran's friends did much to improve upon his mood.

'What's going on with you?' Saski muttered to himself.

A fat lot of good he was able to squeeze out from Mayuzumi. Looks like he had to go to the source for some idea. What would he do if Duran had been cheating the system with that delinquent's help?

'Did you?'

'What are you mumbling about, my sweet honey?' Osamu said as he assumed his usual seat at the bench next to Saski. They readied themselves for their home economics lesson.

'Nothing.' Saski brushed off and refocused on the lesson.

Both the lesson and the rest of the school-day was quick to end. Or maybe his mind was so full of thoughts of Duran, and whether he had fudged the votes for a club, that it appeared that way. He decided to go with his instincts, believing that Duran was a vulnerable creature as Mayuzumi had suggested.

Maybe he got it wrong and that time with Mayuzumi was by chance. It didn't explain their casualness nor the uneasiness on Duran's face.

He thought back to the delinquent's words about Duran being vulnerable and sexy.

'Sexy? Pfft, as if!' Saski argued with himself as he stepped up to his footlocker.

He paused, remembering that time he teased Duran with a near kiss. Ugh! What was he thinking? The guy had even fainted, so he had to carry him all the way to the infirmary. He was running on instinct at that time.

No. He was only teasing Duran to see how far he would go with his concept for a club. Then he also jumped him when he was affected by the Shōujo Effect. What did that say about his like for him?

'It's not like that. I don't like him!' Saski yelled out to no one in particular and felt embarrassed by the thought of it.

A few guys from his class chuckled as they strolled past him. He cringed and quickly swapped his shoes, so he could get the hell out of there.

'Hey Saski-kun!' Kou called out to him as he made his approach from the other end of the lockers.

'Kou-kun, you're working today?'

'Yeah. Doing my penance. Luckily the contract ends before we have to start thinking about exams.'

Exams, of course. A lot of clubs were whittling away their activities in readiness for the hold period all clubs had to endure during mid-term examinations. The Music Club had just been approved and was still in its grace period. Duran wouldn't be able to complete his setup of the club nor gather more members until mid-terms were well and truly over. It would be a couple of months before the club would be able to open its doors. It was an apparent fact that clubs that formed before mid-terms had died a sudden death because the interest would have waned.

'I'll come with you and have some ramen. Dad's working late shift again and I don't have kendo,' he said feeling less troubled.

'Yeah, okay. But don't cause trouble for me 'kay?'

'Since when do I ever cause trouble for you?' Saski said as he ruffled his friend's hair.

'Yahoo Saskicchi!'

Saski shuddered at his name being called out by Chiasa Watanabe.

'Pyscho-hose beast alert,' Kou whispered.

They both went stiff at the sight of three AKB48-like girls bounding their way to them with breasts jigging up and down like Jell-O cups.

'Saskicchi!' Chiasa squealed as she slammed into him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Kou wasn't safe from attention either as her two best friends plastered themselves to his sides.

They were both well and truly trapped in the thralls of the booby-babes.

'Hayashi, Tsubaki, die a thousand deaths!' A guy yelled out to them.

There was a clear misunderstanding with guys who ached to have those girls wrap their arms around their waists. To those type of guys, Saski and Kou were lady-killers who had dated a score full of girls like Chiasa. Of course, it was furthest from the truth.

'Don't mind them Saskicchi. They're just jealous,' Chiasa cooed as she toyed with the buttons on Saski's blazer.

'Maybe if you didn't pounce on me all the time. They wouldn't come to those conclusions,' Saski said as he struggled free from her hold.

Why was he still on her radar? Wasn't Duran her target now? The light bulb in his mind went ding.

'Hey, Chia-chan. You were with Kita at lunchtime weren't you? What did he and Mayuzumi talk about?'

'Eh? What's your interest with Duracchi?'

'It doesn't look good for you to mix with someone who's up to no good. With Mayuzumi on top.'

Chiasa surprised him when she assumed a defiant stance before him; hands on hips and a strong a glare in her eyes. She was firing dagger looks his way.

'Duracchi is good guy. He was cruelly teased by Mayu-san who called him a pansy!'

'A what?'

'I didn't think you could be so judgmental. You're the worst Saskicchi!'

'I'm what?'

'Come on girls were going.' Chiasa huffed and pulled her girls away from Kou. They stormed off down the hallway.

'That was what?' Kou was surprised and relieved.

'I think I received my answer. I don't know what to think any more.' Saski sighed.

They left the school grounds talking about other things. Saski's mind was still mulling over the troubles with Duran, which left him feeling confused. He was usually good at reaching to the core of a problem by now.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that Mayuzumi was up to no good and somehow Duran was connected even if indirectly.

'You've been brooding ever since we left school,' Kou commented as they made their way down the street to the ramen house.

'I can't get this whole Kita and Mayuzumi thing out of my head.'

'Huh? What's Kita got to do with Mayuzumi?'

'It's something Miki-chan said,' Saski mumbled then shook his head to brush the explanation away. 'Never mind.'

Kou peered at his friend, weighing up the troubled expression on his face. It wasn't like him to be this invested in the troubles of others without some sound reason.

'Look. I've known you since elementary. So, I know you wouldn't be worked up about something unless you had grounds for it.'

'That's the thing Kou-kun. This time I don't really know.'

They were about to enter the alley that led to the back of the ramen house when they saw Duran and Mayuzumi in conversation toward the middle near the dumpster.

'You can't be serious!' Duran cried out. 'Why would you do that?'

'I didn't do anything. I only ascertained my position,' Mayuzumi replied smugly.

'You have no conscience?'

'What has this got to do with you eh? In love with him too hmm?'

Saski couldn't see the expression on Duran's face, but from his clenched fists and the tension in his stance, it was clear he was pissed-off.

'I only claimed insurance for the trouble your senpai caused.'

'Bastard! Go to hell.'

'Pleasure. Maybe I'll see you there someday.' Mayuzumi breathed smugly into Duran's face.

He stepped back to make his exit, seeming somewhat satisfied by his reaction. 'See yah Kita. Hope you sleep well at night.'

'Screw you!' Duran yelled, huffing and puffing with rage.

Kou and Saski ducked back into the street when they saw Mayuzumi stroll in their direction. They waited until they were sure he was out of sight before heading back into the alley. Duran was gone by then.